Control apparatus of engine

ABSTRACT

A control apparatus of an engine including intake and exhaust valves and a variable valve timing mechanism for varying open and close timings is provided. The apparatus includes a processor configured to execute an increasing amount controlling module for performing a fuel amount increase control in which a fuel injection amount is increased to decrease an exhaust gas temperature, and a valve controlling module for controlling, via the variable valve timing mechanism, an overlapping period in which the intake and exhaust valves are both opened on intake stroke. When the increasing amount controlling module performs the increase control, based on an increase of a temperature of the exhaust gas in the increase control, the valve controlling module determines whether a protection for an exhaust system component is required, and if the protection is determined to be required, the valve controlling module shortens the overlapping period.

BACKGROUND

An art disclosed here relates to a control apparatus of an engine.

For control apparatuses of engines, an art of controlling an overlapping period in which an intake valve and an exhaust valve are both opened on intake stroke is known.

For example, JP2012-163047A discloses a control apparatus of an engine, which shortens the overlapping period based on an estimation result of a catalyst temperature, so that the catalyst temperature does not excessively increase due to combustion of remaining gas scavenged from a cylinder.

In general, to cool exhaust gas, an amount of fuel injected into the cylinder may be increased. In this case, since unburned fuel vaporizes inside the cylinder, latent heat of the vaporization cools the inside of the cylinder, and a temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the cylinder to an exhaust system decreases.

Here, if the overlapping period is set, fresh air blows through an intake system to the exhaust system, the unburned fuel may react with the blown-through fresh air in the exhaust system and cause a so-called afterburn. By this afterburn, various components of the exhaust system may excessively increase in temperature.

SUMMARY

The present invention is made in view of the above problems, and aims to protect various components of an exhaust system.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a control apparatus of an engine including an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a variable valve timing mechanism for varying open and close timings of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves is provided. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to execute an increasing amount controlling module for performing a fuel amount increase control in which an injection amount of fuel is increased so as to decrease a temperature of exhaust gas, and a valve controlling module for controlling, via the variable valve timing mechanism, an overlapping period in which the intake and exhaust valves are both opened on intake stroke of the engine. When the increasing amount controlling module performs the fuel amount increase control, based on a temperature increase of the exhaust gas estimated to occur due to the fuel amount increase control, the valve controlling module determines whether a protection for a component of an exhaust system of the engine is required, and if the protection for the component of the exhaust system is determined to be required, the valve controlling module shortens the overlapping period.

With the above configuration, based on the temperature increase of the exhaust gas in the fuel amount increase control, whether the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required is determined, and if the protection for the component of the exhaust system is determined to be required, the overlapping period is shortened. Since the exhaust gas temperature increases when afterburn occurs, by performing the determination based on the temperature increase of the exhaust gas, the timing at which the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required can be determined more suitably. Further, since a flow rate of fresh air blown through to the exhaust system is decreased corresponding to the shortened amount of the overlapping period, the afterburn is suppressed according to the decrease amount. Therefore, the temperature increase of the component of the exhaust system can be suppressed to protect the component.

Further, if the protection for the component of the exhaust system is determined to be required, the valve controlling module may shorten the overlapping period before the increasing amount controlling module starts increasing the injection amount.

With the above configuration, the overlapping period is shortened before the fuel amount increase starts. Thus, by the time the increased amount of fuel is supplied to the exhaust system, the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air has decreased already. Therefore, the afterburn can be suppressed more surely, which advantageously results in protecting the component of the exhaust system.

Further, the valve controlling module may determine whether the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required, based on a flow rate of fresh air blowing to the exhaust system in the overlapping period, and the injection amount.

The exhaust gas temperature may increase due to afterburn which occurs by a reaction of the fresh air blown through to the exhaust system with unburned fuel in the exhaust system. The amount of the unburned fuel changes according to the fuel injection amount. Thus, with the above configuration, by performing the determination in consideration of the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air and the fuel injection amount, the temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by the afterburn can be accurately estimated. Thus, whether the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required can accurately be determined.

Further, the valve controlling module may determine that the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required, in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed and the exhaust gas temperature is above a given protection determination temperature, or in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed and a temperature of the component of the exhaust system is above a given determination component temperature.

Generally, the exhaust gas temperature and the component temperature are considered to increase according to the temperature increase of the exhaust gas in the fuel amount increase control. Thus, with the above configuration, by performing the determination based on the temperature of the exhaust gas or the component, the timing at which the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required can be determined more suitably.

Further, the valve controlling module may set a shortening amount of the overlapping period based on the temperature increase of the exhaust gas.

With the above configuration, by taking into consideration the temperature increase of the exhaust gas in setting the shortening amount of the overlapping period, the temperature increase of the component of the exhaust system can be suppressed more surely. For example, by increasing the shortening amount as the temperature increase of the exhaust gas becomes larger, the blow-through flow rate can be decreased more as the temperature increase becomes larger. Thus, the afterburn can be suppressed more sufficiently, and as a result, the temperature increase of the component of the exhaust system can be suppressed more surely.

Further, the valve controlling module may change the open and close timings of the exhaust valve when shortening the overlapping period.

With the above configuration, compared with a case of changing the open and close timings of the intake valve, an influence on an amount of intake air supplied into a cylinder of the engine can be reduced and, as a result, by providing the overlapping period, an influence on an output torque of the engine is advantageously reduced.

Further, the component of the exhaust system may at least include a catalyst for purifying the exhaust gas.

With the above configuration, at least the catalyst can be protected from the heat of the exhaust gas.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a control apparatus of an engine including an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a variable valve timing mechanism for varying open and close timings of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves is provided. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to execute an increasing amount controlling module for setting an injection amount of fuel in response to a request from a driver and performing, based on a temperature of exhaust gas, a fuel amount increase control in which the injection amount of the fuel is increased so as to decrease the temperature of the exhaust gas, and a valve controlling module for controlling, via the variable valve timing mechanism, an overlapping period in which the intake and exhaust valves are both opened on intake stroke of the engine. When the increasing amount controlling module performs the fuel amount increase control, based on a temperature increase of the exhaust gas estimated to occur due to the fuel amount increase control, the valve controlling module determines whether a protection for a component of an exhaust system of the engine is required, and if the protection for the component of the exhaust system is determined to be required, the valve controlling module shortens the overlapping period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view of an engine.

FIG. 2 is a function block diagram of an ECU.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of base setting.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an operation model used for estimating an exhaust gas temperature.

FIG. 5 is an image chart of an exhaust gas temperature map.

FIG. 6 is an image chart of a blow-through cooling map.

FIG. 7 is an image chart of a manifold section temperature increase map.

FIG. 8 is an image chart of a first afterburn map.

FIG. 9 is an image chart of a first coefficient map.

FIG. 10 is an image chart of an upstream-side vehicle speed heat release map.

FIG. 11 is an image chart of a downstream-side vehicle speed heat release map.

FIG. 12 is an image chart of a second coefficient map.

FIG. 13 is an image chart of a third coefficient map.

FIG. 14 is an image chart of a work loss map.

FIG. 15 is an image chart of a fourth coefficient map.

FIG. 16 is an image chart of a reaction heat map.

FIG. 17 is an image chart of a fifth coefficient map.

FIG. 18 is an image chart of a second afterburn map.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a fuel amount increase control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, illustrative embodiments are described with reference to the appended drawings.

Engine Configuration

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view of an engine to which a control apparatus according to this embodiment is applied.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the engine 100 (e.g., gasoline engine) is mounted on a vehicle and mainly has an intake passage (intake system) 10 through which intake air (air) externally introduced passes, an engine body 20 to which the intake passage 10 is coupled, an exhaust passage (exhaust system) 30 coupled to the engine body 20, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 50 for controlling the entire engine 100.

In the intake passage 10, an air cleaner 2 for purifying the externally introduced intake air, a compressor 4 a provided to a turbocharger 4 and for pressurizing the intake air passing therethrough, an intercooler 9 for cooling the intake air passing therethrough, a throttle valve 11 for adjusting a flow rate of the intake air passing therethrough, and an intake manifold 13 having a surge tank 13 a for temporarily storing the intake air supplied to the engine body 20 are arranged in this order from an upstream side. The intake manifold 13 is connected with intake ports 14 of the engine body 20.

Further in the intake passage 10, an air bypass passage 6 for recirculating a part of the intake air turbocharged by the compressor 4 a back to an upstream side of the compressor 4 a is provided. One end of the air bypass passage 6 is connected with the intake passage 10 at a position downstream of the compressor 4 a and upstream of the throttle valve 11, and the other end of the air bypass passage 6 is connected with the intake passage 10 at a position upstream of the compressor 4 a. Moreover, an air bypass valve 7 for controlling a flow rate of the intake air passing through the air bypass passage 6 is provided to the air bypass passage 6.

The engine body 20 mainly has intake valves 22 for opening and closing the intake ports 14, respectively, fuel injectors 23 for injecting the fuel into cylinders 21, respectively, ignition plugs 24 for igniting mixture gas containing the intake air and the fuel supplied into the cylinders 21, respectively, pistons 27 for being reciprocated by combustion of the mixture gas inside the cylinders 21, respectively, a crankshaft 28 for rotating in relation to the reciprocations of the pistons 27, and exhaust valves 29 for opening and closing exhaust ports 31.

An intake camshaft and an exhaust camshaft (not illustrated) are coupled to the crankshaft 28 to be driven thereby. The intake camshaft rotates in conjunction with the crankshaft 28 to drive the intake valves 22. Thus, each intake valve 22 reciprocates to open and close the intake port 14 at given timings. Similarly, the exhaust camshaft rotates in conjunction with the crankshaft 28 to drive the exhaust valves 29. Thus, each exhaust valve 29 reciprocates to open and close the exhaust port 31 at given timings.

The engine body 20 includes a variable valve timing mechanism (intake VVT) 25 for advancing or retarding a phase of the intake camshaft, and a variable valve timing mechanism (exhaust VVT) 26 for advancing or retarding a phase of the exhaust camshaft.

The intake VVT 25 varies each of the open and close timings of the intake valve 22 between a most-advanced timing and a most-retarded timing by advancing or retarding the phase of the intake camshaft. In this embodiment, the intake VVT 25 includes an electromagnetic valve. Similarly, the exhaust VVT 26 varies each of the open and close timings of the exhaust valve 29 by advancing or retarding the phase of the exhaust camshaft. In this embodiment, the exhaust VVT 26 includes a hydraulic solenoid valve.

In the exhaust passage 30, a turbine 4 b provided to the turbocharger 4 and for rotating by letting exhaust gas pass therethrough so as to rotate the compressor 4 a, and exhaust emission control catalysts 37 and 38 having an exhaust gas purifying function are arranged in this order from an upstream side. The exhaust emission control catalysts 37 and 38 are, for example, an NO_(x) catalyst, a three-way catalyst, and/or an oxidation catalyst.

An upstream end part of an exhaust pipe forming the exhaust passage 30 has branched pipes 30 a coupled to the respective exhaust ports 31, and a manifold section 30 b where the branched pipes 30 a are collected together. One or some of the branched pipes 30 a are formed by an exhaust manifold.

Further, the exhaust passage 30 is connected with an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) passage 32 for recirculating the exhaust gas back to the intake passage 10. One end of the EGR passage 32 is connected with the exhaust passage 30 at a position upstream of the turbine 4 b, and the other end of the EGR passage 32 is connected with the intake passage 10 at a position downstream of the throttle valve 11. Additionally, in the EGR passage 32, an EGR cooler 33 for cooling the exhaust gas to be recirculated, and an EGR valve 34 for controlling a flow rate of the exhaust gas passing through the EGR passage 32, are provided.

Further in the exhaust passage 30, a turbine bypass passage 35 for causing the exhaust gas to bypass the turbine 4 b of the turbocharger 4 is formed. A wastegate valve (hereinafter, referred to as the “WG valve”) 36 for controlling a flow rate of the exhaust gas passing through the turbine bypass passage 35 is provided to the turbine bypass passage 35.

Moreover, various sensors are provided in the engine 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Specifically, in the intake system of the engine 100, an airflow sensor 61 for detecting an intake air flow rate and a first temperature sensor 62 for detecting an intake air temperature are provided in the intake passage 10 at positions downstream of the air cleaner 2 (specifically, positions between the air cleaner 2 and the compressor 4 a), a first pressure sensor 63 for detecting turbocharging pressure is provided in the intake passage 10 at a position between the compressor 4 a and the throttle valve 11, and a second pressure sensor 64 for detecting an intake-manifold pressure which is a pressure inside the surge tank 13 a is provided in the intake passage 10 at a position downstream of the throttle valve 11 (specifically, inside the surge tank 13 a). A temperature sensor for detecting an intake-manifold temperature which is a temperature inside the surge tank 13 a is built in the second pressure sensor 64.

Further in the engine body 20, a crank angle sensor 69 for detecting a crank angle of the crankshaft 28, an intake cam angle sensor 70 for detecting a cam angle of the intake camshaft, and an exhaust cam angle sensor 71 for detecting a cam angle of the exhaust camshaft are provided.

Moreover, in the exhaust system of the engine 100, an EGR opening sensor 65 for detecting an EGR opening which is an opening of the EGR valve 34, and a WG opening sensor 66 for detecting a WG opening which is an opening of the WG valve 36 are provided. An O₂ sensor 67 for detecting an oxygen concentration within the exhaust gas, and an exhaust gas temperature sensor 68 for detecting an exhaust gas temperature are provided in the exhaust passage 30 at positions downstream of the turbine 4 b (specifically, positions between the turbine 4 b and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37).

The airflow sensor 61 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S61 corresponding to the detected intake air flow rate. The first temperature sensor 62 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S62 corresponding to the detected intake air temperature, and the first pressure sensor 63 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S63 corresponding to the detected turbocharging pressure. The second pressure sensor 64 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S64 corresponding to the detected intake-manifold pressure and temperature. The EGR opening sensor 65 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S65 corresponding to the detected EGR opening. The WG opening sensor 66 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S66 corresponding to the detected WG opening. The O₂ sensor 67 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S67 corresponding to the detected oxygen concentration. The exhaust gas temperature sensor 68 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S68 corresponding to the detected exhaust gas temperature. The crank angle sensor 69 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S69 corresponding to the detected crank angle. The intake and exhaust cam angle sensors 70 and 71 supply to the ECU 50 detection signals S70 and S71 corresponding to the detected cam angles, respectively. Further, the engine 100 is provided with an atmospheric pressure sensor 60 for detecting an atmospheric pressure, and the atmospheric pressure sensor 60 supplies to the ECU 50 a detection signal S60 corresponding to the detected atmospheric pressure.

The ECU 50 includes a computer comprised of a processor 55 (see FIG. 2) and internal memories, such as ROMs and RAMs for storing various programs which are executed by the processor 55, and various data. The various programs include a basic control program (e.g., operating system (OS)) and an application program which is activated by the OS and realizes a particular function. The ECU 50 performs various controls and operations based on the detection signals transmitted from the various sensors described above.

For example, in response to a request from a driver of the vehicle, the ECU 50 sets an opening of the throttle valve 11, a fuel injection amount of each fuel injector 23, etc., estimates an exhaust gas temperature, and adjusts the fuel injection amount and the open and close timings of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 according to the exhaust gas temperature.

FIG. 2 is a function block diagram of the ECU 50. Specifically, the ECU 50 includes a base setting module 51 for performing a torque base control in which base values in controls of the throttle valve 11 etc. are set, a temperature estimating module 52 for estimating the exhaust gas temperature, an increasing amount controlling module 53 for performing a fuel amount increase control in which the injection amount is increased to decrease the exhaust gas temperature, a valve controlling module 54 for controlling an overlapping period of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29, and the processor 55 for executing the various modules of the ECU 50.

The base setting module 51 obtains a required torque (hereinafter, referred to as the “target torque”) based on an operating state of the engine 100, and sets base values of the opening of the throttle valve 11, the opening of the WG valve 36, an ignition timing of each ignition plug 24, the open and close timings of each intake valve 22, the open and close timings of each exhaust valve 29, and the injection amount of the fuel injector 23, according to the target torque, etc. Each of the base values is changed variously according to the target torque.

The temperature estimating module 52 estimates the exhaust gas temperature by calculating a gain and loss of heat of the exhaust gas from the cylinder 21 to the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. The temperature estimating module 52 estimates the exhaust gas temperature in various parts of the exhaust passage 30 (e.g., upstream of the turbine 4 b, the O₂ sensor 67, and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37).

The increasing amount controlling module 53 increases the injection amount set by the base setting module 51, according to the exhaust gas temperatures estimated by the temperature estimating module 52. In other words, the increasing amount controlling module 53 controls the fuel injector 23 to inject a sufficient amount of fuel in achieving the target torque. By increasing the fuel amount as above, a temperature inside the cylinder 21 is decreased by latent heat of vaporization of the fuel, and as a result, the exhaust gas temperatures are decreased.

The valve controlling module 54 basically controls the intake and exhaust VVTs 25 and 26 to realize the open and close timings of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 set by the base setting module 51. Depending on the operating state of the engine 100, the open and close timings of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 may be adjusted so that the open timing of the intake valve 22 overlaps with the open timing of the exhaust valve 29 on intake stroke. In such a case, the valve controlling module 54 performs a valve overlap control in which the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 are both opened on the intake stroke. By performing the valve overlap control, fresh air sucked into the cylinder 21 via the intake port 14 is discharged from the exhaust port 31 as-is. The valve overlap control is performed to, for example, stimulate scavenging of the cylinder 21, decrease the temperature of the cylinder 21, or increase a turbine flow rate.

Additionally, the valve controlling module 54 adjusts the overlapping period which is a period in which the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 are both opened. Specifically, when the exhaust gas temperatures estimated by the temperature estimating module 52 are high, the valve controlling module 54 adjusts the overlapping period to reduce an overlapping amount between the open timings of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29.

Torque Base Control

First, a torque base control is described in detail with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of base setting.

First at S101, the base setting module 51 acquires the operating state of the engine 100. Specifically, a speed of the engine body 20 (hereinafter, referred to as the “engine speed”), a vehicle speed, an accelerator opening, a transmission ratio, etc. are read based on detection results of the various sensors. For example, the engine speed is acquired based on the detection result of the crank angle sensor 69.

Next, the base setting module 51 obtains a target acceleration according to the acquired operating state (S102). Further, the base setting module 51 obtains the target torque required to achieve the target acceleration (S103).

Moreover, at S104, the base setting module 51 obtains a target value of a charge efficiency of the fresh air required to achieve the target torque (hereinafter, referred to as the “target charge efficiency”). Specifically, the target charge efficiency is obtained based on the target torque, the engine speed, and a target value of an indicated mean effective pressure (hereinafter, referred to as the “target indicated mean effective pressure”). The target indicated mean effective pressure is obtained based on the target torque, and also a mechanical resistance and a pumping loss which correspond to a torque loss.

The base setting module 51 sets the base values of the open and close timings of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 based on the target charge efficiency set as above. The base values of the open and close timings of the intake valve 22 are obtained based on an intake VVT map stored in advance in the internal memory of the ECU 50 and in which the engine speed and the target charge efficiency, and the open and close timings of the intake valve 22 are defined in association with each other. Similarly, the base values of the open and close timings of the exhaust valve 29 are obtained based on an exhaust VVT map stored in advance in the internal memory of the ECU 50 and in which the engine speed and the target charge efficiency, and the open and close timings of the exhaust valve 29 are defined in association with each other. Basically, the base values of the open and close timings of the intake valve 22 are set so that the intake valve 22 opens on the intake stroke and closes on compression stroke after the piston 27 passes a bottom dead center. In other words, the intake valve 22 is designed to perform so-called late closing. Further, depending on the engine speed and the target charge efficiency, the base values of the open and close timings of the exhaust valve 29 are set so that the overlapping period is provided on the intake stroke.

After S104, S105 to S108 and S109 to S112 are performed in parallel to each other.

At S105, the base setting module 51 obtains a target value of the intake air amount inside the intake manifold 13 (hereinafter, referred to as the “target intake-manifold air amount”) required to achieve the target charge efficiency. The target intake-manifold air amount is obtained based on the intake-manifold temperature detected by the second pressure sensor 64, a target value of the intake-manifold pressure (hereinafter, referred to as the “target intake-manifold pressure”), and the open and close timings of the intake valve 22. The target intake-manifold pressure is obtained based on an intake characteristics map stored in advance in the internal memory of the ECU 50 and in which the target intake-manifold air amount and the intake-manifold temperature and the target intake-manifold pressure are defined in association with each other.

At S106, the base setting module 51 obtains a target value of the flow rate of the intake air passing through the throttle valve 11 (hereinafter, referred to as the “target throttle flow rate”) required to achieve the target intake-manifold air amount. The target throttle flow rate is obtained based on the target charge efficiency obtained at S104, the target intake-manifold air amount obtained at S105, and an estimated value of a current intake-manifold air amount (hereinafter, referred to as the “actual intake-manifold air amount”). The actual intake-manifold air amount is estimated based on the intake-manifold pressure and temperature detected by the second pressure sensor 64. Note that the actual intake-manifold air amount may be estimated by calculating a gain and loss between an amount of air flowing into the intake manifold 13 and an amount of air flowing into the cylinder 21 from the intake manifold 13.

At S107, the base setting module 51 obtains a target value of the opening of the throttle valve 11 (hereinafter, referred to as the “target throttle opening”) required to achieve the target throttle flow rate. The target throttle opening is obtained based on the target throttle flow rate, the intake pressure upstream of the throttle valve 11 (turbocharging pressure), which is detected by the first pressure sensor 63, and the intake pressure downstream of the throttle valve 11, which is detected by the second pressure sensor 64.

At S108, the base setting module 51 also obtains the base values for the fuel injector 23 and the ignition plug 24, based on suitable maps stored in advance in the internal memory of the ECU 50. For example, the base setting module 51 sets the injection amount of the fuel injector 23 based on the target charge efficiency, and sets the ignition timing of the ignition plug 24 to achieve the target torque. Then, the base setting module 51 outputs control signals corresponding to control values (base values) to the intake valve 22, the fuel injector 23, the ignition plug 24, and the intake and exhaust VVTs 25 and 26.

On the other hand, at S109, the base setting module 51 obtains a target value of the turbocharging pressure (hereinafter, referred to as the “target turbocharging pressure”) required to achieve the target charge efficiency. The target turbocharging pressure is obtained based on a turbocharging pressure map stored in advance in the internal memory of the ECU 50 and in which the engine speed, the target charge efficiency, and the open and close timings of the intake valve 22, and the target turbocharging pressure are defined in association with each other.

At S110, the base setting module 51 obtains a target value of the flow rate through the turbine 4 b (hereinafter, referred to as the “target turbine flow rate”) based on the target turbocharging pressure. Specifically, the target turbine flow rate is obtained based on a target value of a compressor drive force (target compressor drive force), the engine speed, etc. The target compressor drive force is obtained based on the target turbocharging pressure.

At S111, the base setting module 51 sets a target value of the opening of the WG valve 36 (hereinafter, referred to as the “target WG opening”) required to achieve the target turbine flow rate. The target WG opening is obtained based on the target turbine flow rate and a total flow rate of the exhaust gas.

Then, at S112, the base setting module 51 outputs a control signal to the WG valve 36 to cause it to open at the target WG opening.

Note that the order of these steps is an example and may suitably be changed, or some of these steps may be performed in parallel. For example, S105 to S108 and S109 to S112 may be performed one by one, instead of performing them in parallel.

As above, the base setting module 51 sets the respective base values of the opening of the throttle valve 11, the injection amount of the fuel injector 23, the ignition timing of the ignition plug 24, the open and close timings of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29, and the opening of the WG valve 36.

Temperature Estimation

Next, a temperature estimation of the temperature estimating module 52 is described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an operation model used for estimating the exhaust gas temperature.

The temperature estimating module 52 estimates the gain and loss in heat release and reception in a period from the exhaust gas being discharged from the cylinder until it reaches the exhaust emission control catalyst 37, and estimates the exhaust gas temperatures at the plurality of locations in the exhaust system. Specifically, the temperature estimating module 52 estimates (A) a first exhaust gas temperature Ta at an exit of each exhaust port 31, (B) a second exhaust gas temperature Tb at a position immediate upstream of the turbine 4 b, (C) a third exhaust gas temperature Tc at the O₂ sensor 67, and (D) a fourth exhaust gas temperature Td at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. For the gain and loss of the heat, the temperature estimating module 52 takes into consideration (i) heat release to the exhaust port 31 cooled by the fresh air blowing therethrough, (ii) heat reception from the manifold section 30 b of the exhaust pipe, (iii) heat reception caused by afterburn at a position of the exhaust pipe upstream of the turbine 4 b, (iv) heat release to a part of the exhaust pipe upstream of the turbine 4 b (the upstream of the turbine 4 b includes the exhaust manifold and a turbine housing), (v) heat release to a part of the exhaust pipe downstream of the turbine 4 b and upstream of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37, (vi) a heat loss caused by the work of the turbine, (vii) heat reception from reaction heat of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37, and (viii) heat reception caused by afterburn at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37.

Specifically, the temperature estimating module 52 first estimates a temperature of the exhaust gas combusted in and discharged from the cylinder 21 (hereinafter, referred to as the “discharging temperature”) T0. The discharging temperature T0 is calculated based on the engine speed, the charge efficiency, the ignition timing (retarded amount), and an air-fuel ratio. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance an exhaust gas temperature map in which the discharging temperature T0 based on the engine speed, the charge efficiency, the ignition timing, and the air-fuel ratio is defined. FIG. 5 is an image chart of the exhaust gas temperature map in which the discharging temperature T0 becomes higher as the engine speed increases, the charge efficiency increases, the ignition timing is retarded, and the air-fuel ratio increases. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the discharging temperature T0 by comparing the engine speed, the charge efficiency, the ignition timing, and the air-fuel ratio with the exhaust gas temperature map. Note that various maps used for the temperature estimation by the temperature estimating module 52, including the exhaust gas temperature map, are unique to every engine 100 and obtained in advance by actual measurements etc. Therefore, the exhaust gas temperature map of FIG. 5 and various maps described later are merely examples, and they may indicate different characteristics depending on the engine.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an amount of decrease of the exhaust gas temperature due to (i) the heat release to the exhaust port 31 cooled by the fresh air blowing therethrough (hereinafter, the decrease amount is referred to as the “first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1”). Because of the fresh air blowing through the exhaust port 31, the exhaust port 31 (in other words, a cylinder head of the engine) is cooled. Thus, the exhaust gas passing through the exhaust port 31 is also cooled, and the exhaust gas temperature decreases. The first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 of the exhaust gas resulting from the blow-through of the fresh air increases as a flow rate of the fresh air blowing through increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled more).

First, the temperature estimating module 52 calculates the blow-through flow rate. Specifically, the temperature estimating module 52 calculates a base value of a blow-through rate based on the intake pressure (the intake-manifold pressure detected by the second pressure sensor 64), and the overlapping amount of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 (i.e., overlapping period). The overlapping amount is obtained based on the open and close timings of the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a blow-through rate map in which the base value of the blow-through rate based on the intake pressure and the overlapping amount is defined. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the base value of the blow-through rate by comparing the intake pressure and the overlapping amount with the blow-through rate map. Further, the internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a correction map in which a correction term of the blow-through rate based on the engine speed is defined. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the correction term of the blow-through rate by comparing the engine speed with the correction map. Then, the temperature estimating module 52 obtains an applied value of the blow-through rate by multiplying the base value of the blow-through rate by the correction term thereof. Additionally, the temperature estimating module 52 calculates the blow-through flow rate by multiplying an intake air flow rate by the blow-through rate. The intake air flow rate may be the intake air flow rate detected by the airflow sensor 61. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a blow-through cooling map in which the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 based on the blow-through flow rate is defined. FIG. 6 is an image chart of the blow-through cooling map in which the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 increases as the blow-through flow rate increases. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an applied value of the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 by comparing the blow-through flow rate with the blow-through cooling map.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the first exhaust gas temperature Ta at the exit of the exhaust port 31 by subtracting the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 from the discharging temperature T0.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an increase amount of the exhaust gas temperature due to (ii) the heat reception from the manifold section 30 b of the exhaust pipe (hereinafter, this increase amount is referred to as the “first temperature increase amount ΔTi1”). In other words, the exhaust gas is intermittently discharged at a high temperature from the exhaust port 31 of each cylinder in a combustion order of the cylinders 21. The exhaust gas intermittently discharged from each cylinder 21 passes through the corresponding branched pipe 30 a and eventually reaches the manifold section 30 b. Therefore, since the exhaust gas from the plurality of cylinders sequentially flows into the manifold section 30 b, a temperature of the manifold section 30 b increases compared with the branched pipes 30 a. Since the temperature of the manifold section 30 b increases as above, the exhaust gas is increased in temperature by passing through the manifold section 30 b. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a manifold section temperature increase map in which the first temperature increase amount ΔTi1 based on the first exhaust gas temperature Ta is defined. FIG. 7 is an image chart of the manifold section temperature increase map in which the first temperature increase amount ΔTi1 increases as the first exhaust gas temperature Ta increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is heated more). The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the first temperature increase amount ΔTi1 by comparing the first exhaust gas temperature Ta with the manifold section temperature increase map.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an increase amount of the exhaust gas temperature due to (iii) the heat reception caused by the afterburn in the upstream part of the exhaust pipe (hereinafter, this increase amount is referred to as the “second temperature increase amount ΔTi2”). When the blow-through of the fresh air occurs, the fresh air flows into the exhaust pipe. Therefore, if the exhaust gas contains the unburned fuel, the fresh air reacts with the unburned fuel in the exhaust pipe and a so-called afterburn occurs. Particularly since the temperature of the exhaust gas increases in the manifold section 30 b of the exhaust pipe, the afterburn easily occurs. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a first afterburn map in which a base value of the second temperature increase amount ΔTi2 based on the blow-through flow rate is defined, and a first coefficient map in which a coefficient based on the air-fuel ratio (hereinafter, referred to as the “first coefficient α1”) is defined. FIG. 8 is an image chart of the first afterburn map in which the base value of the second temperature increase amount ΔTi2 increases as the blow-through flow rate increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is heated more). FIG. 9 is an image chart of the first coefficient map in which the first coefficient α1 decreases (i.e., the exhaust gas is heated less) as the air-fuel ratio shifts to be richer (the air-fuel ratio decreases) from a stoichiometric ratio (14.7:1). This is because an influence of the cooling effect caused by the latent heat of the vaporization increases as the air-fuel ratio becomes richer. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the base value of the second temperature increase amount ΔTi2 by comparing the blow-through flow rate with the first afterburn map, and the first coefficient α1 by comparing the air-fuel ratio with the first coefficient map. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an applied value of the second temperature increase amount ΔTi2 by multiplying the base value of the second temperature increase amount ΔTi2 by the first coefficient α1.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains a decrease amount of the exhaust gas temperature due to (iv) the heat release to the upstream part of the exhaust pipe (hereinafter, this decrease amount is referred to as the “second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2”). A traveling wind blows around the engine body 20 and the exhaust system, and the engine body 20 and the exhaust system are cooled by the traveling wind. For example, in the case where the turbocharger 4 is provided as it is in the engine 100, the turbocharger 4 is structured so that the traveling wind is introduced to a circumference of the turbine housing accommodating the turbine 4 b, and the upstream part of the exhaust pipe including the turbine housing is cooled well. Therefore, the heat release of the exhaust gas to the upstream part of the exhaust pipe when the exhaust gas passes therethrough increases. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance an upstream-side vehicle speed heat release map in which the second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2 based on the vehicle speed is defined. FIG. 10 is an image chart of the upstream-side vehicle speed heat release map in which the second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2 increases as the vehicle speed increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled more). The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2 by comparing the vehicle speed with the upstream-side vehicle speed heat release map.

Note that although the heat release to the upstream part of the exhaust pipe also is influenced by the exhaust gas flow rate (intake air flow rate) and an outdoor air temperature, in this example, the vehicle speed causes a dominant influence. Therefore, the second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2 is determined based on the vehicle speed alone. However, the second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2 may be determined by taking into consideration one of the exhaust gas flow rate and the outdoor air temperature.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains a decrease amount of the exhaust gas temperature due to (v) the heat release to the downstream part of the exhaust pipe (hereinafter, this decrease amount is referred to as the “third temperature decrease amount ΔTe3”). The exhaust gas releases heat also to the part of the exhaust pipe downstream of the turbine 4 b, in addition to the upstream part of the exhaust pipe described above. With (iv) the heat release to the upstream part of the exhaust pipe, since the vehicle speed causes the dominant influence thereon, only the vehicle speed is taken into consideration, whereas with (v) the heat release to the downstream part of the exhaust pipe, the influence from the vehicle speed is relatively small, and the exhaust gas flow rate (the intake air flow rate) and the outdoor air temperature also have influence. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a downstream-side vehicle speed heat release map in which a base value of the third temperature decrease amount ΔTe3 based on the vehicle speed is defined, a second coefficient map in which a coefficient based on the intake air flow rate (hereinafter, referred to as the “second coefficient α2”) is defined, and a third coefficient map in which a coefficient based on the outdoor air temperature (hereinafter, referred to as the “third coefficient α3”) is defined. FIG. 11 is an image chart of the downstream-side vehicle speed heat release map in which the third temperature decrease amount ΔTe3 increases as the vehicle speed increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled more). FIG. 12 is an image chart of the second coefficient map in which the second coefficient α2 decreases as the intake air flow rate increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled less). FIG. 13 is an image chart of the third coefficient map in which the third coefficient α3 decreases as the outdoor air temperature increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled less). The temperature estimating module 52 uses the intake air flow rate as a value relating to the exhaust gas flow rate. The temperature estimating module 52 uses the intake air temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 62 as the outdoor air temperature. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the base value of the third temperature decrease amount ΔTe3 by comparing the vehicle speed with the downstream-side vehicle speed heat release map, the second coefficient α2 by comparing the intake air flow rate with the second coefficient map, and the third coefficient α3 by comparing the outdoor air temperature with the third coefficient map. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an applied value of the third temperature decrease amount ΔTe3 by multiplying the base value of the third temperature decrease amount ΔTe3 by the second and third coefficients α2 and α3.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains a decrease amount of the exhaust gas temperature due to (vi) the heat loss caused by the work of the turbine, (hereinafter, this decrease amount is referred to as the “fourth temperature decrease amount ΔTe4”). When the exhaust gas rotates the turbine 4 b, the heat amount of the exhaust gas is converted into the work of the turbine and the exhaust gas temperature decreases. The amount of work acting on the turbine 4 b depends on the opening of the WG valve 36 and the turbine flow rate. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a work loss map in which a base value of the fourth temperature decrease amount ΔTe4 based on the opening of the WG valve 36 is defined, and a fourth coefficient map in which a coefficient based on the turbine flow rate (hereinafter, referred to as the “fourth coefficient α4”) is defined. FIG. 14 is an image chart of the work loss map in which the fourth temperature decrease amount ΔTe4 decreases as the opening of the WG valve 36 increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled less). FIG. 15 is an image chart of the fourth coefficient map in which the fourth coefficient α4 increases as the turbine flow rate increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled more). The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the base value of the fourth temperature decrease amount ΔTe4 by comparing the opening of the WG valve 36 with the work loss map, and the fourth coefficient α4 by comparing the turbine flow rate with the fourth coefficient map. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an applied value of the fourth temperature decrease amount ΔTe4 by multiplying the base value of the fourth temperature decrease amount ΔTe4 by the fourth coefficient α4.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an increase amount of the exhaust gas temperature due to (vii) the heating by the reaction heat of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 (hereinafter, this increase amount is referred to as the “third temperature increase amount ΔTi3”). The exhaust emission control catalyst 37 purifies the exhaust gas by reduction and/or oxidation, and produces the reaction heat during the purification. Thus, the exhaust gas temperature increases. The amount of reaction heat depends on amounts of NO_(x), CO and HC within the exhaust gas (corresponding to the engine speed and the charge efficiency), and purifying performance of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 (corresponding to the air-fuel ratio). The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a reaction heat map in which a base value of the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3 based on the engine speed and the charge efficiency is defined, and a fifth coefficient map in which a coefficient based on the air-fuel ratio (hereinafter, referred to as the “fifth coefficient α5”) is defined. FIG. 16 is an image chart of the reaction heat map in which the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3 increases as one of the engine speed and the charge efficiency increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is heated more). FIG. 17 is an image chart of the fifth coefficient map in which the fifth coefficient α5 decreases (i.e., the exhaust gas is heated less) as the air-fuel ratio shifts to be richer (the air-fuel ratio decreases) from the stoichiometric ratio (14.7:1). This is because the purification efficiency of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 is high when the air-fuel ratio is stoichiometric, and decreases as the air-fuel ratio shifts to be richer. Note that in this example, even when the air-fuel ratio is lean, the fifth coefficient α5 does not change greatly. However, depending on the engine 100 and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37, the fifth coefficient α5 may become smaller as the air-fuel ratio shifts to be leaner. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the base value of the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3 by comparing the engine speed and the charge efficiency with the reaction heat map, and the fifth coefficient α5 by comparing the air-fuel ratio with the fifth coefficient map. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an applied value of the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3 by multiplying the base value of the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3 by the fifth coefficient α5.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains an increase amount of the exhaust gas temperature due to (viii) the heat reception caused by the afterburn at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 (hereinafter, this increase amount is referred to as the “fourth temperature increase amount ΔTi4”). The afterburn during the blow-through of the fresh air occurs not only at the manifold section 30 b described above, but also at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. In other words, the unburned fuel within the exhaust gas does not completely burn in the manifold section 30 b and the exhaust pipe downstream thereof, and a part of the unburned fuel remains unburned and reaches the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. As described above, since the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 is increased in temperature by the reaction heat, the remaining unburned fuel easily combusts at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. Thus, the afterburn also occurs at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance a second afterburn map in which the fourth temperature increase amount ΔTi4 based on the blow-through flow rate is defined. FIG. 18 is an image chart of the second afterburn map in which a characteristic of the fourth temperature increase amount ΔTi4 in relation to the blow-through flow rate is defined for every air-fuel ratio. When the air-fuel ratio is fixed, the fourth temperature increase amount ΔTi4 decreases as the blow-through flow rate increases (i.e., the exhaust gas is heated less). Further, when the blow-through flow rate is fixed, the fourth temperature increase amount ΔTi4 decreases (i.e., the exhaust gas is heated less) as the air-fuel ratio decreases (i.e., the air-fuel ratio becomes richer). This is because, when the air-fuel ratio is low, or in other words, when the fuel amount is relatively large, the afterburn is less likely to occur since the cooling effect caused by the latent heat of the vaporization of the fuel increases. When the fuel amount becomes relatively small, the influence of the heating by the afterburn becomes larger than that of the cooling by the latent heat of the vaporization of the fuel. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the fourth temperature increase amount ΔTi4 by comparing the blow-through flow rate and the air-fuel ratio with the second afterburn map.

The temperature estimating module 52 estimates the exhaust gas temperatures at the plurality of locations in the exhaust system, by adding to or subtracting from the discharging temperature T0, with any of the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 to ΔTi4 and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1 to ΔTe4 as needed. For example, the first exhaust gas temperature Ta is obtained by subtracting the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 from the discharging temperature T0. The second exhaust gas temperature Tb is obtained by subtracting the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 from the discharging temperature T0, adding the first and second temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 and ΔTi2 thereon, and then subtracting therefrom the second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2. The third exhaust gas temperature Tc is obtained by subtracting the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 from the discharging temperature T0, adding the first and second temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 and ΔTi2 thereto, and subtracting therefrom the second to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe2 to ΔTe4. The fourth exhaust gas temperature Td is obtained by subtracting the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 from the discharging temperature T0, adding the first and second temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 and ΔTi2 thereon, then subtracting therefrom the second to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe2 to ΔTe4, and adding the third and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi3 and ΔTi4. Note that the temperature estimating module 52, when calculating the first to fourth exhaust gas temperatures Ta to Td, performs the calculations by suitably using a primary delay element, in consideration of heat capacities of the respective components of the exhaust system. Any of the discharging temperature T0, the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 to ΔTi4, and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1 to ΔTe4 may be the primary delay element as needed.

According to the temperature estimation by the temperature estimating module 52 described above, even when the blow-through flow rate is high, the exhaust gas temperatures are estimated by taking into consideration the temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by the afterburns. As a result, the exhaust gas temperatures are estimated accurately.

Fuel Amount Increase

Next, the fuel amount increase control by the increasing amount controlling module 53 and the overlapping period adjustment by the valve controlling module 54 in the control are described with reference to FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the fuel amount increase control.

First at S201, the temperature estimating module 52 acquires the operating state of the engine 100. Specifically, the engine speed, the charge efficiency, the ignition timing, the air-fuel ratio, etc. are read based on the detection results of the various sensors.

Next at S202, the temperature estimating module 52 calculates the discharging temperature T0, the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 to ΔTi4, and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1 to ΔTe4 based on the operating state read at S201, and estimates the exhaust gas temperatures Ta to Td at the respective locations in the exhaust system.

Subsequently at S203, among the exhaust gas temperatures estimated by the temperature estimating module 52, the increasing amount controlling module 53 reads the second exhaust gas temperature Tb at the position immediately upstream of the turbine 4 b. Further, the increasing amount controlling module 53 determines whether the fuel amount increase control is required, based on the second exhaust gas temperature Tb. Specifically, when the second exhaust gas temperature Tb is above a given amount-increase determination temperature, it is determined that the second exhaust gas temperature Tb is required to be decreased in order to prevent an excessive temperature increase of the turbine 4 b, and the fuel amount increase is requested. The amount-increase determination temperature is defined based on a guaranteed operation temperature of the turbine 4 b and stored in the internal memory of the ECU 50 in advance. On the other hand, when the second exhaust gas temperature Tb is the amount-increase determination temperature or below, it is determined that the second exhaust gas temperature Tb is not required to be decreased, and the fuel amount increase is not requested, and the control flow returns. Note that the configuration in which whether the fuel amount increase control is required is determined based on the comparison result between the second exhaust gas temperature Tb and the guaranteed operation temperature of the turbine 4 b is merely an example, and it is not limited to this. For example, the determination may be performed by comparing the first exhaust gas temperature Ta (the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the exhaust port 31) with an amount-increase determination temperature defined based on a guaranteed operation temperature of the exhaust port 31, performed by comparing the third exhaust gas temperature Tc (the exhaust gas temperature at the O₂ sensor 67) with an amount-increase determination temperature defined based on a guaranteed operation temperature of the O₂ sensor 67, performed by comparing the fourth exhaust gas temperature Td (the exhaust gas temperature at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37) with an amount-increase determination temperature defined based on a guaranteed operation temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37, or performed based on a combination of the comparison results from the respective locations in the exhaust system.

Next, at S204 which follows if the fuel amount increase is requested at S203, the increasing amount controlling module 53 obtains an increase amount of the fuel in the fuel amount increase control (hereinafter, referred to as the “injection amount correction value”). The internal memory of the ECU 50 stores in advance an amount increase map in which the injection amount correction value based on the engine speed and the charge efficiency is defined. In the amount increase map, the injection amount correction value increases as the engine speed increases and the charge efficiency increases (i.e., the fuel amount is increased more). The increasing amount controlling module 53 obtains the injection amount correction value by comparing the engine speed and the charge efficiency with the amount increase map. The increasing amount controlling module 53 acquires a target value of the injection amount in the fuel amount increase control (hereinafter, referred to as the “amount-increase-controlled injection amount”) by adding the injection amount correction value to the base value of the injection amount set by the base setting module 51.

Then at S205, the temperature estimating module 52 estimates the exhaust gas temperatures in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed, before the fuel amount increase control is actually performed. Specifically, the temperature estimating module 52 obtains the first to fourth exhaust gas temperatures Ta to Td when the fuel amount increase control is performed. Hereinafter, the first to fourth exhaust gas temperatures Ta to Td for the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed are referred to as the first to fourth estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Td′. The temperature estimating module 52 calculates the first to fourth estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Td′ by obtaining the discharging temperature T0, the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 to ΔTi4, and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1 to ΔTe4 again, for the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed. Hereinafter, the discharging temperature T0, the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 to ΔTi4, and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1 to ΔTe4 in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed are referred to as the discharging temperature T0′, the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1′ to ΔTi4′, and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1′ to ΔTe4′, respectively. In this embodiment, the discharging temperature T0′ and the second to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2′ to ΔTi4′ may be influenced by the fuel amount increase control as described below. The rest of the changing amounts of temperature remain the same as those calculated at S202.

The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the discharging temperature T0′ by taking into consideration an influence of cooling of the exhaust gas by the fuel amount increase control. As described above, the temperature inside the cylinder 21 is decreased by the latent heat of the vaporization of the amount-increased fuel. By the increase of the fuel amount, since the air-fuel ratio shifts to the rich side, the discharging temperature T0′ obtained by the temperature estimating module 52 based on the exhaust gas temperature map described above becomes lower than the discharging temperature T0 obtained at S202. The decrease amount of the discharging temperature T0′ by the fuel amount increase control becomes larger as the injection amount correction value increases (i.e., the exhaust gas discharged from the cylinder 21 is cooled more as the fuel amount increases). The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the discharging temperature T0′ in the above-described manner, by using an amount-increase-controlled air-fuel ratio.

Further, the temperature estimating module 52 obtains the second and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2′ and ΔTi4′ by taking into consideration an influence of the fuel amount increase control on the afterburns. The amount-increased fuel is supplied to the exhaust system as the unburned fuel, which may cause the afterburns in the exhaust pipe and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 as described above. Therefore, when the fuel amount increase control is performed, the afterburns easily occur according to the increased amount, and the second and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2′ and ΔTi4′ may become higher than the second and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2 and ΔTi4 obtained at S202, respectively. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the second and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2′ and ΔTi4′ in the above-described manner, by using the amount-increase-controlled air-fuel ratio.

Moreover, the temperature estimating module 52 obtains the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3′ by taking into consideration the influence of the fuel amount increase control on the reaction heat of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. When the air-fuel ratio is decreased by the fuel amount increase control, the purifying performance of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 drops, and the reaction heat decreases. As a result, the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3′ becomes lower than the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3 obtained at S202. The temperature estimating module 52 obtains the third temperature increase amount ΔTi3′ in the above-described manner, by using the amount-increase-controlled air-fuel ratio.

Furthermore, the temperature estimating module 52 calculates the first to fourth estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Td′ based on the discharging temperature T0′, the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1′ to ΔTi4′, and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1′ to ΔTe4′. For example, the first estimated exhaust gas temperature Ta′ is obtained by subtracting the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1′ from the discharging temperature T0′, similar to the calculation of the first exhaust gas temperature Ta. The second estimated exhaust gas temperature Tb′ is obtained by adding the first and second temperature increase amounts ΔTi1′ and ΔTi2′ to the first estimated exhaust gas temperature Ta′ and subtracting the second temperature decrease amount ΔTe2′ therefrom. The third estimated exhaust gas temperature Tc′ is obtained by subtracting the third and fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe3′ and ΔTe4′ from the second estimated exhaust gas temperature Tb′. The fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ is obtained by adding the third and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi3′ and ΔTi4′ to the third estimated exhaust gas temperature Tc′. In the calculations of the first to fourth estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Td′, similar to the first to fourth estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta to Td, a primary delay is suitably taken into consideration.

Next, in the case where the increasing amount controlling module 53 performs the fuel amount increase control, at S206, the valve controlling module 54 determines whether a protection for components of the exhaust system (in this embodiment, the exhaust ports 31, the turbine 4 b, the O₂ sensor 67, and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37) is required, based on the temperature increase of the exhaust gas in the fuel amount increase control. Specifically, in this embodiment, before the fuel amount increase is actually started, the valve controlling module 54 determines whether the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 is above a given protection determination temperature corresponding to the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. In this embodiment, the protection determination temperature is defined based on the guaranteed operation temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 (i.e., in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed, whether the temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 exceeds the guaranteed operation temperature is determined). Further, if the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ is determined to be above the protection determination temperature, the valve controlling module 54 determines that the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required (proceeds to S207). On the other hand, if the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ is determined to be the same as or below the protection determination temperature, the protection for the components of the exhaust system is determined to not be required and the increasing amount controlling module 53 starts increasing the injection amount (proceeds to S209). Note that, in this embodiment, when the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 is below the protection determination temperature, the first estimated exhaust gas temperature Ta′ at the exhaust port 31, the second estimated exhaust gas temperature Tb′ at the turbine 4 b, and the third estimated exhaust gas temperature Tc′ at the O₂ sensor 67 do not exceed the guaranteed operation temperatures of the corresponding components of the exhaust system. Alternatively, whether the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required may be determined based on one of the first estimated exhaust gas temperature Ta′ at the exhaust port 31, the second estimated exhaust gas temperature Tb′ at the turbine 4 b, and the third estimated exhaust gas temperature Tc′ at the O₂ sensor 67, or based on a combination of at least two of the first to fourth estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Td′, instead of being based on the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37.

Subsequently at S207, the valve controlling module 54 obtains a shortening amount of the overlapping period (hereinafter, referred to as the “overlap reduction amount”). By shortening the overlapping period, the components of the exhaust system can be protected. The overlap reduction amount is obtained based on the estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Td′ for the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed. In this embodiment, the overlap reduction amount is obtained based on the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 which is used for the determination described above. Specifically, as described above, the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ is obtained based on the discharging temperature T0′, the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1′ to ΔTi4′, and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1′ to ΔTe4′ which are obtained by taking into consideration the influence of the fuel amount increase control. Among these temperature and temperature amounts, the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1′ and the second and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2′ and ΔTi4′ may be influenced by the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air. A blow-through flow rate required for decreasing the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ down to a fourth guaranteed operation temperature Tt4 or below is obtained by inverse calculations of the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1′ and the second and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2′ and ΔTi4′. Since the blow-through flow rate is obtained by multiplying the blow-through rate corresponding to the overlapping amount by the intake air flow rate as described above, by the inverse calculations thereof, the overlapping amount corresponding to the blow-through flow rate (i.e., the overlap reduction amount) required for decreasing the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ down to the fourth guaranteed operation temperature Tt4 or below is obtained. In this manner, the valve controlling module 54 obtains the blow-through flow rate required for decreasing the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ down to the fourth guaranteed operation temperature Tt4 or below, and acquires the overlap reduction amount corresponding to the blow-through flow rate. Further, the overlap reduction amount increases as the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ increases above the fourth guaranteed operation temperature Tt4. Note that the overlap reduction amount may be obtained based on one of the first to third estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Tc′, or based on a combination of at least two of the first to fourth estimated exhaust gas temperatures Ta′ to Td′, without limiting to the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′.

At S208, the valve controlling module 54 activates the exhaust VVT 26 to advance the close timing of the exhaust valve 29 by the overlap reduction amount obtained at S207. In this manner, the overlapping period in which the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 are both opened on the intake stroke is shortened. The valve controlling module 54 shortens the overlapping period and then the increasing amount controlling module 53 starts the fuel amount increase.

Next at S209, the increasing amount controlling module 53 performs the fuel amount increase control (starts increasing the fuel amount). Specifically, the increasing amount controlling module 53 increases the injection amount set by the base setting module 51, to the amount-increase-controlled injection amount acquired at S204 described above.

By performing the fuel amount increase control, the discharging temperature T0 decreases according to the latent heat of the vaporization, and the exhaust gas temperatures at the respective locations in the exhaust system, for example, the first exhaust gas temperature Ta at the exhaust port 31, is decreased. On the other hand, by performing the fuel amount increase control, the temperatures at the respective components of the exhaust system may exceed the guaranteed operation temperatures thereof due to the temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by the afterburns. As described at S206 to S209 above, if there is a possibility of such a problem occurring, the components of the exhaust system are protected by shortening the overlapping period. Specifically, by shortening the overlapping period, the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air decreases. When the blow-through flow rate decreases, although the first temperature decrease amount ΔTe1 decreases and the temperature of the exhaust port 31 increases, the temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by the afterburns is suppressed; in other words, the second and fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2 and ΔTi4 are reduced by a reduced amount of oxygen supplied to the exhaust system. In the case where the overlapping amount is reduced, a total of the decrease amounts of the exhaust gas temperature caused by the suppression of the afterburns is larger than the increase amount of the exhaust gas temperature caused by the temperature increase of the exhaust port 31. Therefore, by reducing the overlapping amount, the temperature increase of the exhaust gas is suppressed, which results in protecting the components of the exhaust system.

As described above, the ECU 50 includes the increasing amount controlling module 53 for performing the fuel amount increase control in which the injection amount of the fuel is increased so as to decrease the exhaust gas temperature, and the valve controlling module 54 for controlling, via the intake and exhaust VVTs 25 and 26, the overlapping period in which the intake and exhaust valves 22 and 29 are both opened on the intake stroke of the engine 100. In the case where the increasing amount controlling module 53 performs the fuel amount increase control, the valve controlling module 54 determines whether the protection for the components of the exhaust system (specifically, the exhaust ports 31, the turbine 4 b, the O₂ sensor 67, and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37) is required, based on the second to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi2′ to ΔTi4′ indicating the temperature increase of the exhaust gas in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed. If the protection for the components of the exhaust system is determined to be required, the overlapping period is shortened.

According to this configuration, whether the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required is determined based on the estimated temperature increase of the exhaust gas in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed. Since the exhaust gas temperature increases when the afterburns occur, by performing the determination based on the estimated temperature increase of the exhaust gas, the timing at which the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required is determined more suitably. Further, according to this configuration, the overlapping period is shortened when the protection for the components of the exhaust system is determined to be required. In this case, since the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air is decreased corresponding to the shortened amount of the overlapping period, the afterburns are suppressed according to the decrease amount. Therefore, the temperature increase of the components of the exhaust system is suppressed to protect the components.

Further, if the valve controlling module 54 determines that the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required, it shortens the overlapping period before the increasing amount controlling module 53 starts increasing the injection amount.

Generally, even if the overlapping period is shortened after the fuel amount increase control, the increased amount of fuel is supplied to the exhaust system before the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air decreases. For this reason, the temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by the afterburns may not be suppressed sufficiently.

According to the above configuration, the overlapping period is shortened before the fuel amount increase starts. Thus, by the time the increased amount of fuel is supplied to the exhaust system, the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air has decreased already. Therefore, the afterburns are suppressed more surely, which advantageously results in protecting the components of the exhaust system.

Further, the valve controlling module 54 determines whether the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required, based on the flow rate of the fresh air blowing through to the exhaust system in the overlapping period, and the fuel injection amount.

The exhaust gas temperature may increase due to the afterburns which occur as a result of the reaction of the fresh air blown through to the exhaust system with the unburned fuel, and the amount of the unburned fuel changes according to the fuel injection amount. Thus, according to the configuration above, by performing the determination in consideration of the blow-through flow rate of the fresh air and the fuel injection amount, the temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by the afterburns is accurately taken into consideration. Thus, whether the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required is accurately determined.

Moreover, when the estimated exhaust gas temperature in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed is above the given protection determination temperature, the valve controlling module 54 determines that the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required.

Generally, the exhaust gas temperature is considered to increase according to the estimated temperature increase of the exhaust gas. Thus, according to this configuration, by performing the determination based on the exhaust gas temperature, the timing at which the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required is determined more suitably.

Further, the valve controlling module 54 sets the shortening amount of the overlapping period based on the temperature increase of the exhaust gas.

According to this configuration, by taking into consideration the temperature increase of the exhaust gas in setting the shortening amount of the overlapping period, the temperature increase of the components of the exhaust system is suppressed more surely. For example, by increasing the shortening amount as the estimated temperature increase of the exhaust gas becomes larger, the blow-through flow rate is decreased more as the temperature increase becomes larger. Thus, the afterburns are suppressed more sufficiently, and as a result, the temperature increase of the components of the exhaust system is suppressed more surely.

Further, the valve controlling module 54, when shortening the overlapping period, changes the close timing of the exhaust valve 29.

According to this configuration, compared with the case of changing the open and close timings of the intake valve 22, an influence on the amount of the intake air supplied into the cylinder 21 is reduced and, as a result, by providing the overlapping period, the influence on the output torque of the engine 100 is advantageously reduced.

Moreover, the components of the exhaust system include the exhaust emission control catalyst 37.

According to this configuration, at least the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 is protected from the exhaust gas heat.

Other Embodiments

As above, the embodiment is described as an illustrative example of the art disclosed in the present application. However, the art of this disclosure is not limited to this, and also applicable to embodiments with suitable modification(s), change(s), replacement(s), addition(s), omission(s), etc. Further, some of the components described in the embodiment may be combined to constitute a new embodiment. Moreover, the components illustrated in the appended drawings and described in the detailed description of the embodiments may include not only essential components for solving the above problems which occur with the conventional arts, but also non-essential components for solving the above problems, in order to illustratively describe the art. Therefore, the non-essential components should not be considered as essential simply because they are illustrated in the appended drawings or described in the detailed description of the embodiments.

The above embodiment may have any of the following configurations.

The configuration of the engine 100 described above is an example and is not limited to this.

Further, the temperature estimating module 52 described above estimates the exhaust gas temperatures at the exit of the exhaust port 31, the position immediately upstream of the turbine 4 b, the O₂ sensor 67, and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37; however, it is not limited to this. By taking into consideration the gain and loss of heat on the upstream side of the locations where the exhaust gas temperatures are estimated, the temperature estimating module 52 may estimate the exhaust gas temperature at any location in the exhaust system.

Further, for the gain and loss of heat, the temperature estimating module 52 described above takes into consideration the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 to ΔTi4 and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1 to ΔTe4; however, it is not limited to this. Depending on the engine, there may exist a factor which has a small influence on the exhaust gas temperature. In such a case, unnecessary one(s) of the first to fourth temperature increase amounts ΔTi1 to ΔTi4 and the first to fourth temperature decrease amounts ΔTe1 to ΔTe4 may be omitted. Alternatively, depending on the engine, there may exist a different factor which has a large influence on the exhaust gas temperature. In such a case, the exhaust gas temperature may be estimated by further taking into consideration the different factor.

Further, for the influence of the afterburns, the temperature estimating module 52 described above takes into consideration (iii) the heat reception caused by the afterburn at the position of the exhaust pipe upstream of the turbine 4 b and (viii) the heat reception caused by the afterburn at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37; however, it is not limited to this. The temperature estimating module 52 may take into consideration only one of the afterburns or afterburn(s) at other location(s).

Further, the various maps used by the temperature estimating module 52 are merely an example, and characteristics of the various maps vary depending on the engine.

Further, the valve controlling module 54 determines that the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required, when the fourth estimated exhaust gas temperature Td′ at the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 is above the protection determination temperature corresponding to the exhaust emission control catalyst 37; however, it is not limited to this. The valve controlling module 54 may determine that the protection for the components of the exhaust system is required, when the temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 is above a given determination component temperature. The determination component temperature is defined based on the guaranteed operation temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. Similarly, the determination may be performed based on the temperature of the exhaust port 31, the temperature of the turbine 4 b, the temperature of the O₂ sensor 67, or a combination of at least two of the temperatures of the exhaust port 31, the turbine 4 b, the O₂ sensor 67, and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37. Moreover, the shortening amount of the overlapping period may be set based on the temperatures of the respective components of the exhaust system.

Further, the valve controlling module 54 shortens the overlapping period by advancing the close timing of the exhaust valve 29; however, it is not limited to this. The valve controlling module 54 may shorten the overlapping period by retarding the open timing of the intake valve 22, or by advancing the close timing of the exhaust valve 29 and also retarding the open timing of the intake valve 22.

Further, by shortening the overlapping period, the valve controlling module 54 protects the exhaust port 31, the turbine 4 b, the O₂ sensor 67, and the exhaust emission control catalyst 37 as the components of the exhaust system; however, it is not limited to this. The valve controlling module 54 may protect any component of the exhaust system by performing the determination based on the temperature increase of the exhaust gas.

As described above, the art disclosed here is useful for the control apparatus of the engine.

It should be understood that the embodiments herein are illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof, are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   100 Engine -   20 Engine Body -   21 Cylinder -   22 Intake Valve -   25 Intake VVT -   26 Exhaust VVT -   29 Exhaust Valve -   30 Exhaust Passage -   30 a Branched Pipe -   30 b Manifold Section -   31 Exhaust Port -   37 Exhaust Emission Control Catalyst (Catalyst) -   4 Turbocharger -   4 b Turbine -   50 ECU (Control Apparatus) -   52 Temperature Estimating Module -   53 Increasing Amount Controlling Module -   54 Valve Controlling Module 

What is claimed is:
 1. A control apparatus of an engine including an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a variable valve timing mechanism for varying open and close timings of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves, an exhaust passage coupled to the engine, a manifold section collecting together branched pipes, a turbocharger provided downstream of the manifold section of the exhaust passage, an upstream end part of an exhaust pipe forming the exhaust passage having the branched pipes coupled to respective exhaust ports, the control apparatus comprising a processor configured to execute: an increasing amount controlling module for performing a fuel amount increase control in which an injection amount of fuel is increased so as to decrease a temperature of exhaust gas, such that an exhaust temperature upstream of the manifold section decreases; and a valve controlling module for controlling, via the variable valve timing mechanism, an overlapping period in which the intake and exhaust valves are both opened on intake stroke of the engine, wherein when the increasing amount controlling module performs the fuel amount increase control, based on a temperature increase of the exhaust gas at the manifold section estimated to occur due to the fuel amount increase control, the valve controlling module determines whether a protection for a component of an exhaust system of the engine is required, and if the protection for the component of the exhaust system is determined to be required, the valve controlling module shortens the overlapping period.
 2. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the protection for the component of the exhaust system is determined to be required, the valve controlling module shortens the overlapping period before the increasing amount controlling module starts increasing the injection amount.
 3. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve controlling module determines whether the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required, based on a flow rate of fresh air blowing through to the exhaust system in the overlapping period, and the injection amount.
 4. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve controlling module determines that the protection for the component of the exhaust system is required, in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed and the exhaust gas temperature is above a given protection determination temperature, or in the case where the fuel amount increase control is performed and a temperature of the component of the exhaust system is above a given determination component temperature.
 5. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve controlling module sets a shortening amount of the overlapping period based on the temperature increase of the exhaust gas.
 6. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve controlling module changes the open and close timings of the exhaust valve when shortening the overlapping period.
 7. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component of the exhaust system at least includes a catalyst for purifying the exhaust gas. 